Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

HESIOD, or the rife of woman.

A fairy tale, in the ancient English ftyle.

Pervigilium Veneris.

The Vigil of Venus.

Battle of the frogs and mice.

To Mr. Pope.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Have left on long record of woman's rife,
What morals teach it, and what fables hide,
What Author wrote it, how that Author dy'd,
All thefe I fing. In Greece they fram'd the tale;
(In Greece 'twas thought, a woman might be frail)
Ye modern Beauties! where the Poet drew
His fofteft pencil, think he dream'd of you;
And warn'd by him, ye wanton pens, beware
How heav'n's concern'd to vindicate the Fair.
The cafe was Hefiod's; he the fable writ;
Some think with meaning, fome with idle wit:

[blocks in formation]

Perhaps 'tis either, as the Ladies please ;
I wave the conteft, and commence the lays.

In days of yore, (no matter where or when, 'Twas ere the low creation fwarm'd with men) That one Prometheus, fprung of heavenly birth, (Our Author's fong can witness) liv'd on earth. He carv'd the turf to mold a manly frame, And ftole from Jove his animating flame. The fly contrivance o'er Olympus ran,

When thus the monarch of the stars began.

Oh vers'd in arts! whose daring thoughts aspire,

To kindle clay with never-dying fire!
Enjoy thy glory past, that gift was thine;

The next thy creature meets, be fairly mine:
And such a gift, a vengeance so defign'd,

As fuits the counsel of a God to find;

A pleafing bofom-cheat, a specious ill,

Which felt they curfe, yet covet still to feel.

He faid, and Vulcan ftrait the Sire commands,

To temper mortar with etherial hands;

In

In fuch a fhape to mold á rifing Fair,

As virgin goddeffes are proud to wear ;
To make her eyes with diamond-water fhine,
And form. her organs for a voice divine.

'Twas thus the Sire ordain'd; the Pow'r obey'd; And work'd, and wonder'd at the work he made; The faireft, fofteft, fweeteft frame beneath,

Now made to feem, now more than seem to breathe.
As Vulcan ends, the chearful Queen of charms.
Clasp'd the new-panting creature in hér arms;
From that embrace à fine complexion spread,
Where mingled whitenefs glow'd with softer red.
Then in a kifs fhe breath'd her various arts,
Of trifling prettily with wounded hearts;
A mind for love, but ftill a changing mind;
The lifp affected, and the glance defign'd;
The sweet confusing blush, the secret wink,
The gentle-fwimming walk, the courteous fink,
The ftare for ftrangeness fit, for fcorn the frown,
For decent yielding, looks declining down,

The

« ПредишнаНапред »